Before you agree
- What is the service-call charge?
- Is there a mileage or after-hours charge?
- What is the likely range for the job, and what could change it?
- What is the business name, and will the technician show ID?
Red flags
- A very low quoted price that jumps on arrival.
- No company name on the phone.
- Pressure to drill or replace a lock without explanation.
- A demand for payment before the work begins.
At the door
- Ask for identification.
- Confirm the price before work starts.
- Ask what method will be used and whether the lock can be saved.
After the work
- Get an itemized invoice.
- Test every lock and key.
- Ask about warranty or follow-up terms in writing.
Compare quotes fairly
A quote is only useful if it covers the same work. Ask each company what the service call includes, what labour is charged separately, whether parts are extra and whether after-hours work changes the price. A low first number that grows on arrival is worse than a slightly higher honest range.
Get it in writing
Ask for the range by text or email before the technician leaves. If the job changes when the technician sees the lock, the new price should be explained and agreed before work continues. Keep the message and the final invoice together; they are your record if there is a dispute or an insurance claim.
Questions that reveal a lot
Ask for the company name, the technician's first name and the vehicle. Ask whether the technician will try to open the lock without drilling. Ask what happens if you decline once they arrive. Straight answers to those three questions tell you most of what you need to know. See verifying a locksmith at your door.
Need a locksmith? See our emergency locksmith and pricing and process pages.